World’s First Swimming App for Apple Watch Tested Successfully

If it’s tried and tested, it will be easily accepted by consumers. This is the mantra our corporate world has adopted as the new-age consumers have become smart enough to test any product against claims made by the brands.

In one such bid, Apple Watch was tested under water to confirm whether it is completely waterproof or not, and results were positive – Apple Watch can survive swimming sessions without going bonkers.

Swimming App for Apple Watch Tested Successfully

To test the underwater capacity of Apple Watch, a group of developers in London created a swimming app for the smartwatch. This app is touted as the world’s first swim app on Apple Watch as the app can monitor the watch user’s heart rate inside a swimming pool. Now users can track their heartbeat while swimming; the watch will count the calories burned by users during each swimming session. This will be a unique feature of Apple Watch as no other consumer device can track the heartbeat of users under water.

Developers were happy to compare the app with the one they have developed for Pebble; according to one developer, creating an app on the Apple Watch was easier as Apple offers “amazing” resources on the smartwatch.

Pebble uses the only accelerometer to monitor the swimming session. However, developers have noticed a downside; they observed that when Apple Watch’s screen turns off, it suspends any background processing of data to save battery life. This delays the display of updated health data after a swimming session.

So what makes it possible for developers to create such a fantastic app? The answer is improved HealthKit. The complete integration of HealthKit allows the app to sync its workout session data to Apple’s Health app.

But there is a sting in the tail. While everything looks pretty, a single scratch can distort the face of this app: developers cannot release their app on the App Store. The reason is that app is

The reason is that app is in the testing mode and will remain so for some time until Apple make an amendment in its Section 13.1 of its App Store guidelines that stops developers from uploading any app to the store that “encourage users to use an Apple Device in a way that may cause damage to the device.”

If you are also frustrated with Apple’s App Store guidelines that stop developers from uploading such an amazing app, share your feedback in the comments.